Optometry Scholars Program

Are you a current student or applying to the UMSL College of Optometry? Many students entering the UMSL College of Optometry have expressed an interest in research. While some of these students may not have had much exposure or opportunity for research others have come with (sometimes significant) exposure in research. This research experience may have come from undergraduate laboratories, graduate research, and occasionally research in clinical practices students have worked in. In order to build upon this student interest in research, the College of Optometry initiated the “Optometry Scholars Program”.

Optometry Scholars research interests are matched with the interests of the faculty in the different areas. In addition, to the “normal expectations” of the professional program, Scholars have priority for Teaching Assistant assignments, summer support for the first two summers years, travel support to meetings, and special designation at White Coat ceremony and Graduation. The Program is only four years old and students have combined for 16 abstracts at meetings (including the American Academy of Optometry, Heart of America, and the American Optometric Association), as well as four papers in refereed journals.